Obituaries, March 2020 | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Obituaries, March 2020

Beulah Erensky

Beulah Erensky of Milwaukee died Feb. 4, 2020. She was 101. 

Loving aunt of Bob (Khalida) Erens. Dear great-aunt of Liam and Lewis Erens. Adoring cousin of Geraldine Tarney. Further survived by other relatives and friends.

Graveside services were Feb. 6 at Mound Zion Cemetery. Memorials to American Cancer Society. Rabbi Jessica Barolsky and Blane Goodman Funeral Service assisted the family. 

Elaine B. Friedman

Elaine B. Friedman of The Villages, Florida died Jan. 18, 2020. She was 92.

Elaine was predeceased by spouse Sidney Jack Friedman in 1991. She graduated from Washington High School and Marquette University School of Dental Hygiene. She worked with Friedman Management. Memberships included Hadassah and Lion of Judah. Special interests included bridge; she was a life master. She was a wonderful golfer, with two hole-in-ones.

Loving mother of Linda, Robert and James Friedman. Other survivors include grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Burial at Anshai Lebowitz Cemetery. Goodman Bensman Funeral Home assisted the family.

Diana Siegel Lipshultz

Diana Siegel Lipshultz (nee Malkin) of Mequon died Jan. 19, 2020. She was 96 years old. 

Her death followed a short illness. Born in Marinette, Wisconsin on Oct. 9,1923, she attended high school in Crystal Falls, Michigan. After graduating she attended business school in Milwaukee. She worked as a secretary at A.O. Smith. Diana volunteered her time helping B’nai B’rith, Beth El Synagogue, Beth Israel synagogue and the Jewish Home. 

Diana always had a smile on her face. She selflessly took great pride in helping others and was always available to lend a hand to anyone who was in need. She was a well-known wonderful baker who was twice a finalist in the Pillsbury Bake-Off. She generously gifted her home baked goods to many people which gave her great pleasure throughout her lifetime including recently.

Survivors include her children Sharon (Steve Picus) Siegel, Cheryl (Mark Gajewski) Siegel-Gajewski, Rise’ (Larry Routenberg) Routenberg, as well as six grandchildren, Sasha, Jake, Leah, Melissa, Evan and Robin, and three great-grandchildren, Tiziano, Sebastian and Juliette.

Burial was at Ever-Rest Cemetery on Jan. 21. Rabbi Jacob Herber and Hazzan Jeremy Stein assisted the family, with Blane Goodman Funeral Service. Memorials may be sent to the charity of your choice.

Harold Arthur Nonken

Harold Arthur Nonken, a man of eclectic interests, died Nov. 21, 2019. He was 79. 

He was born Nov. 5, 1940. He liked paying attention to everything from international politics to local library affairs and municipal ethics. He just had a wonderful thirst for knowledge and for people and places.

After graduating from Washington High School, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and his master’s degree in social studies at University of Wisconsin – Madison. Harold entered the Purdue University doctorate program devoted to teaching teachers how to teach social studies.

In 1974, the family moved to Shorewood. In 1984, he began Nonken Promotions which became Promotional Marketing Group a few years later.

Harold was an avid reader. He would offer a book review or discuss the plumbing industry in Asia at the slightest mention. His interest in the Jews of Kaifeng became a passion as more was discovered about the genealogy of the “Nankin” family. Other interests were travel, exercise, music, Sudoku and crossword puzzles.

Harold is survived by Pamela, his wife of 54 years, daughters Melissa Nonken Gursky and Marilyn Nonken Hunka, with son-in-law George Hunka. He was a devoted and adoring zayde to Benjamin, Samantha and Alexander Gursky, devoted and adoring “poppop” to Goldie and Billie Hunka. Other survivors are sisters Sheila Nonken and Marla Nonken, loving friends and relatives.

Graveside services were held Nov. 25 at Mound Zion Cemetery. Suminski/Weiss Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Ovation Jewish Home or Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun. 

Gilbert Palay

Gilbert Palay of Fox Point died Jan. 17, 2020. He was 92.

He is survived by wife J. Dorothy “Dottie” Palay. Goodman-Bensman Funeral Home and Rabbi Andrea Steinberger assisted the family. Burial was Jan. 23 at Spring Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Milwaukee Art Museum or Milwaukee Jewish Federation.

Nancy Polsky

Nancy Polsky of Milwaukee died Jan. 19, 2020. She was 90. 

Preceded in death by husband Walter Polsky. Loving mother of Michael (Karen) Polsky and Alan Polsky. Dear grandmother of David (Deena Heller) Polsky and Daniel Polsky. Further survived by other relatives and friends. Special gratitude to Hearts to Home and Ovation Jewish Home.

Graveside services were Jan. 22 at Second Home Cemetery. Memorials to charity of your choice. Rabbi Jenn Mangold and Blane Goodman Funeral Service assisted the family.

Paul D. Soref

Paul D. Soref, age 79, died Jan. 26, 2020 at Froedtert Memorial Hospital, Wauwatosa. He was born Aug. 6, 1940, son of the late Hyman and Mary Soref.

Paul was a graduate of William Horlick High School and University of Wisconsin – Ripon. On June 13, 1975 in Milwaukee he was united in marriage to Mary L. Weber. At the forefront of communications technology in the Milwaukee area, Paul worked with technology companies bringing cellular and digital networks to the Milwaukee area, retiring as corporate sales manager for Verizon. Paul was a member of Congregation Shalom. He lived an active lifestyle: a sailor, a runner, and a basketball player, Paul maintained his active lifestyle all the way to the end.

He was an ambitious but modest family man whose main goal was to provide secure, safe and loving lives for his loving wife, Mary, of 45 years; and two sons, Mark (Erika) Soref and Daniel Soref. The highest point of his life was the birth of his granddaughter, Eliana, who quickly became the pride of his life. Also survived by his brother-in-law, Michael (Gail) Weber; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his stepsister, Dinah (Kip) Libman.

Graveside services were held Jan. 31 at the Racine Jewish Memorial Cemetery, 612 Lathrop Avenue, Racine with Rabbi Dena Feingold officiating.

Dedication

Estelle Pump Swerdlow

Estelle Pump Swerdlow’s family will hold a stone dedication in her memory on April 19, 2020, 11 a.m. at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery, 134 S. Dana Court, Milwaukee.